Depressing Drug Abuse Films: Movies that Capture the Downward Spiral

Drug use plays a huge part in modern cinema. While some of the depictions are casual, others are light-hearted-putting a comedic spin on a more disturbing human behavior. But there are plenty of films that illustrate the extremely dark nature of drug abuse. Indeed these films provide a disquieting visual of the downward spiral that often occurs when a person begins abusing drugs. Here are a few notable films that capture this "downward spiral" quite well. (SPOILERS ALERT!)

Cops on Drugs: Rush (1991), Deep Cover (1992)

Few films depict police officers getting involved with drugs as well as these two movies did. Rush, based on a true story-stars Jason Patric and Jennifer Jason Leigh as two undercover officers charged with bringing down a methamphetamine dealer. The movie does a great job of delving into their descent into both drug use and a precarious romance.

Laurence Fishburne goes undercover in Deep Cover; as detective Russell Steven he must actually sell drugs on the street to hone in on the bad guys. But audiences are treated to a torturous emotional decline, as Steven begins to dip into the merchandise.

Dirty Businessmen: The Boost (1988), Carlito's Way (1993)

Sometimes those whom you'd least expect succumb to the ills of drug use: businessmen. In 1988's The Boost audiences saw what happened to a lovely couple once they got trapped in cocaine addiction. In the lead role, James Woods exemplifies the meaning of the downward spiral, as his drug abuse parallels his deteriorating corporate career. And while Carlito's Way wasn't a drug film per se, watching Sean Penn's character, Dave Kleinfeld travel down a heavily beaten path of cocaine abuse and personal destruction-was completely engrossing.

"Don't Get High on Your Own Supply": Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2005), New Jack City (1991), Scarface (1983)

There is an informal rule on the streets that a drug dealer should never "indulge" in his own supply of goods. The repercussions of this rule are blatantly apparent in these three films. Get Rich or Die Tryin' and New Jack City both involve drug empires that begin to crumble as one of the crew members becomes more dependent on the product. And in Scarface, a solid two hours is dedicated to observing the effect that cocaine has on Tony Montana's (Al Pacino) grasp of reality.

Heart Wrenching Drug Tales: Requiem for a Dream (2000), Gia (1998)

There is perhaps no sadder a tale than Requiem for a Dream, a movie based entirely on the downward spiral of four drug-addicted individuals with emotional ties to one another. The film takes the viewer on an uncomfortable ride via the lives of Sara, Harry, Marion, and Tyrone; each suffers his own personal torments which are incredibly painful to watch. Equally dismal is the true story of supermodel Gia, artfully illustrated by Angelina Jolie. Gia's steady decline into a heroin-addled lifestyle conflicted with her growing popularity as a model. Ultimately, she paid the price-succumbing to AIDS as a result of her intravenous drug use.

SOURCES:

www.imdb.com
www.netflix.com
www.amazon.com